Concrete gutter and curb forming machine



1968 H. J. AUSTIN ETAL 3,362,308

I CONCRETE GUT'TER AND CURB FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTORS. npozp J flusr/N 2cm: E. 490877 Arne/var Jan. 9, 1968 H, J. AUSTIN ETAL 3,

CONCRETE GUTTER AND CURB FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I in z x 1 m I? A, at? KLC FIG. 4 F165 1N VENTORS.

b22041? AusT/N @CH/E flUST/N I firraews United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A movable rail-supported machine for concurrently forming a concrete gutter and curb, as well as openings in the curb at longitudinally spaced intervals therein for access to driveways.

For some years it has been general practice in the construction industry to removably afiix three laterally spaced parallel rails to a graded ground surface to provide temporary forms in which to pour concrete to define a gutter and curb. When such a system is used, the intermediately disposed rail is spaced from the inner rail the width ofthe curb. The lower surface of the intermediate rail is positioned above the graded ground surface a distance that is the thickness of the gutter that is to be formed.

A vehicle is provided which is supported by wheels on the inner and outer rails, with the vehicle having a transversely offset concrete-carrying hopper so mounted thereon that permits concrete to be poured between the outer and intermediate rail to define the gutter when the vehicle is moved in a first direction on the rails. After the gutter has been so poured, the vehicle is rotated 180 relative to the rails and caused to travel in a second direction thereon to discharge concrete between the intermediate and inner rail to form the curb.

This method of forming a gutter and curb has several operational disadvantages. A first disadvantage is that the vehicle must traverse the rails twice to form the curb and gutter, and secondly must be rotated 180 at the end of the first traverse to thereafter form the curb by a second pass over the rails. Another disadvantage is that in the previous method a continuous curb is formed and to provide access for driveways, longitudinally spaced intervals of the curb must be knocked out after it has been formed.

A major object of the present invention is to provide an improved device that will concurrently form a concrete curb and gutter between two laterally spaced parallel rails as it makes a single pass thereover, and will also provide openings in the curb being formed at longitudinally spaced intervals therein for access to driveways.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for concurrently forming a concrete gutter and curb at a lower cost than previously possible, due to lessened time and labor required in carrying out the operation, as well as eliminating the necessity for knocking out portions of the formed curb for access to driveways.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for concurrently forming a gutter and curb that can be fabricated from standard commercially available materials, has a simple mechanical structure, is simple and easy to use, and one that require-s a minimum of maintenance attention.

Yet another object of the invention is to supply a device in which the hopper thereon extends substantially the entire transverse distance between the rails and holds sufiicient concrete to form a desired length of gutter and curb, and thus eliminate the necessity for a concrete- Patented Jan. 9, 1968 carrying truck in front of the device, as well as a vibrating screen that is normally placed in front of prior art devices used in forming concrete gutters and curbs.

Yet another object of the invention is to supply a concrete gutter and curb forming machine in which the curb can be'caused to taper into the gutter on opposite sides of the openings formed in the curb for driveway purposes.

A further object of the invention is to furnish a concrete gutter and curb forming device in which the openings for driveways are made while the device is moving on the supporting rails.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a prior art device that formed a gutter and curb by twice traversing the rails supporting the same, can be modified to concurrently form a gutter and curb by one pass over the supporting rails, and also form openings in the curb for driveway purposes as the device moves longitudinally on the rails.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof and from the drawings illustrating the same, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved device that is movably supported on wheels to concurrently form a concrete gutter and curb between the rails as the device makes a single pass thereover, as well as to provide openings in the curb at desired longitudinal intervals thereon for access to driveways;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device, taken at the same location as FIGURE 2, but with a vertically moving gate mounted on the device having been moved to a position where no curb will be formed as the device is moved longitudinally along the supporting rails;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 6,6of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the integrally formed concrete gutter and curb disposed between the supporting rails; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective View of the integrally formed gutter and curb but with the curb tapering downwardly to merge with the gutter to define one side of an opening in the curb for access to a driveway.

With continuing reference to the drawings for the general arrangement of the invention, it will be seen in FIG- URE 1 that a device A, of a type previously used in forming a concrete curb and gutter by twice traversing the length of two laterally spaced parallel rails B and C removably affixed to a graded ground surface D, has been modified to include the present invention.

The par-ts of the device A used in the present inven tion includes a horizontal tubular frame E that has a number of spaced rigid members 10 extending downwardly from the longitudinal sides thereof, and these members rotatably supporting wheels 12 that rest on the upper surfaces of rails B and C. A relatively wide crosspiece 14 extends transversely across the rearward portion of the frame E and serves as a support for an engine 16 that by transmission means (not shown) is capable of rotating the wheels 12 to move the frame E along the rails B and C at a desired rate. The crosspiece 14 serves as a support for additional auxiliary equipment P, such as a water reservoir, hydraulic pump and the like, that D Q are old in combination with the frame E in prior art gutter and curb forming devices, and accordingly need ends thereof that are pivotally connected to the rearward portions of the structures 2%.

By discharging fluid under pressure into hydraulic cylinders 22 (by means not shown), the piston rods 24 can be moved to pivot the structures 29 clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 1, and place the wheels 18 in contact with the ground surface D. A third wheel 18 on the forward end portion of the frame E can be lowered to contact the ground surface D by rotating a threaded crank 25 that engages a vertical tapped bore 26 formed in a block 28. The block 28 is secured to a transverse cross member 30, that is affixed to the forward portion of the frame E. When wheels 18 are in the lowered positions, they provide a tricycle-like support for the frame E and permit the wheels 12 to be mounted on or removed from the rails B and C.

The interior surfaces of the rails B and C are laterally spaced a distance 32, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, that is the combined width of the concrete gutter G and curb H that are to be formed. Rail B has a height that is substantially the thickness of the gutter G. The rail C has a height that is substantially the vertical distance from the lowermost part of gutter G to the uppermost part of the curb H. The elements of the device A previously described are old, and have been used in prior art devices for pouring concrete to define a gutter and curb when three laterally spaced rails are used in this operation. The third rail, or intermediate rail, required when such prior art devices were used in pouring a gutter and curb, is not required in the improved gutter and curb forming device that may be provided by modifying the device A as hereinafter described.

An elongate slip form K is provided that includes a rectangular fiat portion 34, best seen in FIGURE 1, and an inverted L-shaped portion 36 that extends longitudinally along the inwardly disposed side of the flat portion 34. The forward part of the slip form K has a transverse elongate opening 38 therein that extends completely across the portion 36 and across the major part of the portion 34. A hopper L is provided, best seen in FIGURE 2, that is capable of holding suflicient fluid concrete to concurrently pour a desired length of the gutter G and curb H.

The hopper L includes a lower portion that is defined by two end walls it), a forward side wall 42, and rearward side wall 44. The upper part of the hopper L is defined by two upwardly and outwardly flaring end walls 40a, as well as upwardly and outwardly flaring forward and rearward side walls 42a and 44a. The upper end walls 49a and side walls 42a and 44a merge on their lower ends into the end walls 40 and side walls 42 and 44, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. The end walls 4d and side walls 42 and 44 are, by welding or other conventional fastening means aflixed to the slip form K, and with the interior of the hopper L being in communication with the opening 38 previously described, that is defined in the slip form K.

The inverted L-shaped portion 36 of the slip form K includes an upper substantially horizontal section 36w, best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, in which a transverse slot 46 is formed rearwardly from the hopper L. A vertically movable gate M, best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, extends downwardly through the slot 46. The gate M is guided in its vertical movement by the slot 46, as well as a guide 48 that is affixed to the side walls 44. The gate M is provided with an eye 50 on the upper end thereof, that pivotally engages the lower end of a link 52. The upper end of the link '52 is pivotally connected by a pin 54, to a first lever 56. The lever 56 is pivotally supported on a pin 58 that is held at a desired position relative to the hopper L by a conventional bracket 60, or other suitable support.

The inverted L-shaped portion 36 of slip form K ini cludes a downwardly extending section 3615, as can best be seen in FIGURE 4, and in which section a slot 62 is formed that includes a horizontal portion 62a and a forwardly disposed, upwardly extending extension 6217. A transverse slide 68 is provided that is slidably movable in slot 62, and the slide 68 including a horizontal portion 68a that is movable in slot portion 62a, as well as an upwardly and forwardly angling extension 68b that is transversely movable in the slot extension 62b. The slide 68 is preferably held a short distance above the horizontal portion 34 of the slip form K by conventional guides 76). The guides '70 may be formed from three members that are held together in a guiding position by a bolt 72. By tightening the bolt 72, the slide 68 can be locked in a fixed position relative to the guides 70, to prevent inadvertent transverse movement of the slide relative the slip form K. The outer end of the slide 68 has a shackle 74 pivotally connected thereto, and the upper end of the shackle being pivotally connected to the lower end of a second lever 76, that is pivotally supported by a pin 78. The lever 76 has an extension 76a, that serves as a handle to permit the lever to be pivoted, and the slide moved to either a first or second position for reasons that will later be explained in detail. The pin 78 is held at a fixed position relative to the frame E by a bracket 80 that is affixed to one of the side portions of the frame, as shown in FIGURE 4. The slip form K, and the hopper L are supported from the frame E by a number of turnbuckles 82, as shown in FIGURE 1. The forward end of the slip form K has a screed bar 84 that extends thereacross and conforms to the transverse cross section thereof. Pads 86 are aifixed by conventional means to the screed bar portions over the rails B and C, and the pads at all times being in brushing contact with the rails to prevent poured concrete adhering thereto. The slip form K is reinforced by a number of longitudinally spaced transversely extending rigid members 88. Also, the frame E is reinforced by cross members 90 to add the desired rigidity thereto.

One or more conventional vibrators N are disposed in hopper L to cause the concrete 0, which is of a thick consistency, to flow downwardly through the opening 38 to the space between rails B and C. The concrete 0 must be of rather thick consistency to prevent the curb H from slumping after it has been formed by use of the slip form K.

The use and operation of the invention is extremely simple. The rails B and C are disposed in such laterally spaced parallel relationship that the wheels 12 are supported on the upper surface thereof. The rails B and C are removably supported in the previously mentioned spaced relationship on the graded ground surface D- by spikes 92 that extend downwardly through lugs 94 affixed to the rails, as can best be seen in FIGURE 1. The assembly, as shown in FIGURE 1, is now positioned at one end of the rails, and hopper L filled with the concrete 0. The assembly is now moved longitudinally over the rails B and C in such direction that the hopper L is on the forward end of the moving assembly.

The assembly is moved along the rails B and C by power transmitted to the wheels 12 by transmission means (not shown) that are driven by the engine 16. The vibrators N, which are of conventional design, are actuated to cause the concrete 0, which is a relatively stiff mixture, to flow downwardly through the opening 38 into the space defined between the rails B and C. Prior to filling the hopper L, the turnbuckles 82 are manually adjusted to lower the slip form K until the edges of the end walls 40 are adjacently disposed to the upper edges of the rails B and C, or situated slightly therebelow. The lever 56 is pivoted to a second position where the gate M is moved out of the confines of the inverted L-shaped portion 36 of the slip form K. Handle 76a is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 4, to a second position where the slide 68 is disposed of the confines of the inverted L-shaped portion 36 of slip form K. The assembly, as viewed in FIGURE 1, is now moved to the right, with concrete flowing downwardly through the opening 38 to the space between the rails B and C to be formed by the slip form K into a gutter G and curb H, as viewed in FIGURE 7. The concrete 0, when delivered to the space between the rails B and C, is sufiiciently stiff and has so little slump that it will remain in the position shown in FIGURE 7 to define the gutter G and curb H, after the slip form K has moved forward therefrom.

When it is desired to form an opening 96 in the curb H, as shown in FIGURE 8, the gate M is moved downwardly by use of lever 56 at a gradual rate as the assembly shown in FIGURE 1 is in motion, and in so doing, a tapered surface 98 is formed on the curb H of a desired angulation, as shown in FIGURE 8. After the tapered surface 98 has been so formed, the handle 76a is moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4, to cause the slide 68 to move to the left and occupy a first position shown in FIGURE 4, in which the slide extends completely across the interior of the inverted L-shaped portion 36, and the slide acting as a trowel to smooth the upper surface of the concrete defining the opening 96. After the opening 96 has been formed, the handle 76a is pivoted to move the slide 68 to the right and to the extent that no portion of the slide is within the confines of the inverted L-shaped portion 36. The lever 56 is now pivoted to gradually raise the gate M, and in so doing, concrete is deposited to form a tapered surface of the same shape and configuration as the tapered surface 98, shown in FIGURE 8, but with this surface defining the other side of the opening 96 in a direction opposite to that of the tapered surface 98. After the opening 96 has been formed, the assembly shown in FIGURE 1 continues to move along rails B and C to integrally form the gutter G and curb H, as shown in FIGURE 7, until another opening 96 is desired to be formed in the curb for access to a driveway, whereupon the previously described operation is again performed. It will be noted in FIGURES 4 and 5, that the slide 68 has an upwardly and forwardly extending extension 68b that contacts the poured concrete prior to this concrete being smoothed out and troweled by the portion 68a of the slide 68. In practice, it is found desirable to have the slide 68 disposed approximately an inch above the portion 34 of the slip form K, and as a result the opening 96 is defined by a longitudinally extending narrow strip that has an upper surface slightly above that of the gutter G.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof and we do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with first and second parallel laterally spaced rails that are removably afiixed to the ground surface, a substantially rectangular open frame disposed above said rails and longitudinally movable relative thereto, a plurality of wheels that movably support said frame on said rails, a prime mover supported from said frame for moving said frame and wheels in a forward direction along said rails, a device for forming an integral concrete gutter and curb between said rails, with said curb having openings of desired widths at longitudinally spaced intervals therein for driveways, said first rail having a height that is substantially the thickness of said gutter, and said second rail a height that is substantially the distance from the lower extremity of said gutter to the top of said curb, said device including:

(a) an elongate slip form of rigid sheet material positioned below said frame and disposed between said first and second rails, said form including a fiat horizontal portion that acts to define the upper surface of said gutter as said form is moved longitudinally over concrete poured between said first and second rails, and said form also including an inverted L- shaped portion parallel to said flat portion and adjacent to one side thereof that slidably molds said poured concrete into said curb as said L-shaped portion is moved forwardly thereover;

(b) first means for adjustably supporting said slip form from said frame;

(c) a concrete holding hopper disposed above a forward part of said slip form and supported thereby, said hopper in communication with a transverse opening in said slip form that extends across said L-shaped portion and substantially across said flat portion;

(d) a gate vertically movable in a transverse slot in said L-shaped portion rearwardly of said hopper;

(e) second means for moving said gate between a first position where the lower edge thereof is adjacent the upper interior surface of said Lshaped portion and a second position where said lower edge is slightly above said flat portion, and holding said gate in said first or second position;

(f) an elongate slide transversely movable on said flat portion and movable through a longitudinally extending slot in the lower part of said L-shaped portion adjacent the rearward part of said hopper;

(g) guide means on said flat portion for movably engaging said slide;

(h) third means for moving said slide between a first position where said slide extends across said L-shaped portion and a second position where said slide is outside the confines of said L-shaped portion and holding said slide in said first or second position; and

(i) vibrating means for causing s-aid concrete in said hopper to flow downwardly as a compact mass between said first and second rails where it is formed into an integral gutter and curb as said slip form passes over it longitudinally in a forward direction when said second means holds said gate in said first position and said third means disposes said slide in said second position, and said curb so formed having an opening formed therein when said slip form is moved along said rails with said second means disposing said gate in said second position and said third means holding said slide in said first position.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means comprise a plurality of vertically disposed, longitudinally spaced turnbuckles, the upper ends of which are afiixed to said frame with the lower ends of said turnbuckles being afiixed to said slip form.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means includes:

(j) a bracket supported from a rear portion of said hopper:

(-k) a transversely positioned lever disposed rearwardly of said hopper;

(l) a pin afiixed to said bracket; and

(m) a vertically positioned link pivotally connected to said lever and to an upper portion of said gate.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprise two sets of transversely aligned guides mounted on the upper surface of said flat portion of said slip form, and said guides are of such structure that they movably support said slide at a desired elevati-on above the upper surface of said flat portion.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said guides further include:

(j) means for locking said slide in either said first or second position.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said slide includes a rectangular horizontal flat portion and an upwardly extending, angularly disposed portion which projects forwardly therefrom, with said slot being of such shape as to permit the inwardly disposed parts of said flat portion and angularly disposed portion to be slid into said inverted L-shaped portion of said slip form.

'7. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said third means includes:

(j) a bracket afiixed to said frame rearwardly of said (k) a pin supported by said bracket;

(1) a lever pivotally supported by said pin;

(in) a shackle pivotally connected to a first end of said lever and an outer end of said slide; and

(n) an extension of said lever that serves as a handle.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

